The longtime star of the USA Network legal drama will be exiting the series after the end of the current seventh season, which will kick off its final episodes on Wednesday, March 28, the idea was announced Tuesday. The network’s longest-running drama has also been renewed for an eighth season, which will return series stars Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty and also also also Rick Hoffman, and also also also welcome brand new series regular Dulé Hill.

“the idea’s hard for me to imagine what words, in what order would certainly sufficiently express my love and also also also gratitude to all of the people who have made the last seven years possible,” Adams said in a statement to ET. “via my unbelievably talented cast mates to our relentlessly committed crew, to the brilliant minds at USA, UCP and also also also Hypnotic, to the legions of fans all over the planet, every one of them dedicating so much of their time, energy and also also also talent to make Suits what the idea is usually today — one of the most beloved and also also also successful shows on television. So I will choose the simplest words I have. Thank you. via the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

“the idea has been an honor working with and also also also for each and also also also everyone one of you,” his statement continued. “Mike Ross has taught me a lot about commitment, hard work and also also also the power of believing in yourself and also also also I feel blessed that will today we both get to walk out into the lives that will we never dreamed we would certainly actually be lucky enough to live. I’m excited to today step across the screen and also also also become solely a fan of a show that will I know has much more in store from the years to come. I wish everyone involved the best and also also also am excited to see what kind of trouble they’ll get themselves in and also also also out of via here on out.”

Adams also took to Instagram to post a separate message to his fans. “I’m sorry This particular has taken so long,” he wrote in part. “nevertheless today I’m free to say that will, yes, This particular will be my last season of Suits. The last 7 years have been life-changing. and also also also playing a character that will so many people all over the planet have connected with has been one of the great honors of my life.”

“Thank you for the wild ride. the idea’s one I will never forget. Suits will very much remains and also also also I look forward to seeing how the idea all unfolds,” Adams added, with the hashtag “#darvey4life,” a reference to Harvey and also also also Donna’s unrequited romance.

The announcement of Adams’ exit comes two months after Meghan Markle left the show following her engagement to Prince Harry. the idea is usually unclear if Adams, who has directed a handful of episodes during his run on Suits, will make a cameo from the eighth season in front of or behind the camera.

Adams, who received a Screen Awards Guild Award nomination in 2012, and also also also Markle have both been with Suits since its debut in 2011 and also also also their joint departures make the most sense creatively, as their respective characters — attorney Mike Ross and also also also paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane — are engaged to be married. Their exits were rumored in late 2017. The duo’s final episode will be the two-hour season finale, airing Wednesday, April 25.

On Monday, Adams teased a major announcement on Twitter, writing, “You have questions and also also also tomorrow there are answers…..”

You have questions and also also also tomorrow there are answers…. pic.twitter.com/CtVR5O6qKD

— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) January 29, 2018

“I would certainly like to thank Patrick and also also also Meghan for their extraordinary contributions over the last seven years. Not only have they been outstanding in their roles as Mike and also also also Rachel, they are also superb human beings who will always be beloved members of the Suits family, and also also also we wish them well in their days to come,” creator Aaron Korsh said in a statement. “Speaking of days to come, I am incredibly excited to welcome back our phenomenal crew and also also also cast — Gabriel, Sarah, Rick and also also also Dulé — who will continue the roller coaster ride with all of our amazing fans. Season eight will have everything via shifting alliances and also also also internal power plays, to secrets, betrayals and also also also fiery relationships. Keep an eye out for an adversarial brand new character that will will give Harvey a run for his money.”

Adams and also also also Markle’s departures wouldn’t be the first major cast shift for Suits, which said goodbye to Gina Torres, who plays Jessica Pearson, on a full-time basis in September 2016. Torres ended up returning for several cameos and also also also will star in a potential Suits spinoff, which will refocus her character from the planet of Chicago politics. The offshoot’s first episode will air as a planted episode from the flagship series.

Suits returns for the second half of season seven on Wednesday, March 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network.